But he clarified that police were still "actively investigating sightings of drone activity" at the airport after 67 reports from the public, passengers, police officers and airport staff between 19 December and 21 December.

It follows a police search at an address in Crawley on Saturday after the two people were arrested on suspicion of "disrupting services of civil aviation aerodrome to endanger or likely to endanger safety of operations or persons".

Gatwick drone 'caught on camera'

In an earlier statement, the officer said: "Both people have fully co-operated with our inquiries and I am satisfied that they are no longer suspects in the drone incidents at Gatwick.

"It is important to remember that when people are arrested in an effort to make further inquiries it does not mean that they are guilty of an offence and Sussex Police would not seek to make their identity public."

He told Sky News officers were acting on information passed on by the public when they made the arrests.

"I'm confident that that arrest was justified and of course over the last day or so we have been meticulously investigating their involvement and I am satisfied now that they are no longer suspects in this investigation," he added.

The police chief said the two people released were being offered support by officers.

"The government was repeatedly warned about the risks posed by drones to aviation but failed to act," said shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald.

"The delay in bringing forward legislation is indicative of this government's failure to concentrate on the day-to-day business in front of them. They have taken their eye off the ball."

According to The Times, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling put plans on hold as a result of pressure on his department, with civil servants diverted to deal with Brexit.

However, the Department for Transport (DfT) said the claims were "a combination of nonsense and gross misrepresentation".

A DfT spokesman added: "The drones at Gatwick have been flown illegally. The government changed the law this year to make it illegal to fly drones within 1,000m of an airport or above 400ft. The law couldn't be any more clear."